Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

How Lucky by Will Leitch

13 reviews

hornborra's review

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

julied's review

adventurous challenging dark informative lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Enjoyed the plot and learning about SMA. Some elements were problematic enough to take away from really enjoying as much as I would have liked. Three biggest issues for me were the fact that this isn't own voice (obvious from page one and my bad for not researching that before I purchased), virtue signaling, and some ridiculously convenient plot points. I finished it though because I really liked Daniel, Travis, and Marjani and cared about finding out what happened. Makes it hard to figure out what to rate it overall.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Alcohol, Drug use, Blood, Ableism, Chronic illness, and Medical content

keijiwolf's review

dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Confinement, Death, Medical content, Sexism, Violence, Chronic illness, Cursing, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Stalking, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture

Minor: Antisemitism, Sexual assault, Cancer, Death of parent, Murder, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

apeck's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Chronic illness

Moderate: Cursing, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

diadoodle's review

funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Kidnapping

Minor: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

starsbyname's review

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was slow. It was hard to get into at first, but then would have a little spike of excitement for a minute. Then it'd go back to being slow. The ending was a bit faster pace, but predictable. 

The story is a mix of Rear Window and Girl on the Train.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Kidnapping

Moderate: Blood and Violence

elaboratelyemily's review

emotional funny hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really enjoyed reading this book and finished it in one sitting. It was funny and compelling, and had me tense and unable to stop reading. The suspense builds quickly and I found myself anxious to see how everything would play out at the end. I fell in love with every main character and was really rooting for Daniel the entire time. It was a quick read but very well done.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

Moderate: Ableism, Sexism, and Racism

Minor: Cancer

legalplanner's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

 

How Lucky was an intense read covering intense topics. 
It was great seeing the realities of someone who has a condition that has taken his voice and mobility. The story here had the grit that someone living this day in, and day out may have told Leitch. 

Brief description of the plot:

Spoiler

Set over the course of a week in the college town of Athens, Georgia you get exactly what you expect; college students, football tailgates, and people walking around town. As a reader we get to know Daniel through a unique writing style that feels like a conversation rather than that of a typical narration. We learn that Daniel has independence, getting to live a full life living on his own like any other mid-twenties guy. Even though we know that there is going to be a kidnapping (read the back cover my friends) it took me by surprise when I finally got into the portion regarding the kidnapping.

Overall, the characters felt real to me especially as you see them in the eyes of Daniel not the eyes of some all-knowing narrator. The plot moved smoothly and again felt as if you could have been one of the side characters on the journey with Daniel because it felt real and not gimmicky. I wanted to get to the bottom of things and have the answers that Daniel found himself looking for. 

This was worth the 4.75 stars to me because it was an enlightening read when it comes to all things MSA. It was relatable in a way that may not have been possible pre-pandemic, because now we all understand Daniel and his isolation a bit more. I would absolutely recommend this to someone else. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Violence

sleeson's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I liked this one! Such a unique idea for a story. Loved the bond between all of the characters. I look forward to reading more books by the author. Swearing of course, but no sexual content.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Terminal illness

chloew130's review

adventurous funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Violence